The Gezira Scheme and Sennar Dam, Sudan – January 5th, 2010

Despite its greenish appearance, the river flowing northward across the left side of this image is the White Nile. Flowing diagonally across the right side is the Blue Nile.

The expansive, green agricultural area between the two rivers are the fields of the Gezira Scheme in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state. The scheme uses an extensive series of canals and ditches to distribute water to farms in the area.

Upon opening the full image and following the Blue Nile southward, the reservoir created by the Sennar Dam can be observed. The dam, located near the town of Sennar, was built in 1925 to provide water for crop irrigation in the Al Jazirah region. It is 3025 meters (9925 feet) long, with a maximum height of 40 meters (130 feet).